Hispanic prayer groups growing in diocese

Friday, Apr. 08, 2016

SALT LAKE CITY — More than 15 prayer Hispanic groups are throughout the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City as part of the diocesan Charismatic Renovation Group.

The prayer groups are not only at the parishes but also in missions such as Saint Jude in Ephraim and Santa Ana in Tremonton, where the group that meets call themselves Amigos de Jesus (Friends of Jesus).

This group, which was formed more than eight years ago, gathers every Friday from 7 to 9 p.m.

“First we do a prayer, then we do worship, and then we have the (Bible) readings, and more prayer,” said Maria Arreguin, coordinator of the prayer group.

Besides the regular meeting, the group organizes Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Monday at 9 a.m.,  and in the afternoon they have a program called “Crecimientos” (Growing).

“We also gather on Thursday nights and have more Adoration,” said Arreguin.

Besides the faith activities, the prayer group also helps the most in need in the community and the parishes by having sales; the money collected goes toward those in need.

“The importance of the prayer groups is that we pray for everybody in the world. ... There are a lot of needs, so through our prayers we ask for all those in need,” said Arreguin.

More than 16 people gather regularly for Amigos de Jesus.

One of the reasons that is important that people pray is because “if we are not close to God, the sadness and evil win,” said Arreguin, adding that community prayer is very beautiful “because it is a unity of the Holy Spirit with us. ... You cannot know about God until you get close to Him, and He always has his arms open to welcome us. … He always is saying ‘Come to me, my dear friends.’” 

A charismatic prayer meeting is a weekly gathering of Catholics to give praise, thanks, honor and love to Jesus Christ. 

“It’s a time we gather in community to praise God on a one-to-one basis,” said David Villalobos, coordinator of the prayer group ‘Rosa Mistica’ (Mystic Rose) at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Magna, which began more than two years ago.

Today, more than 25 people gather every Monday for the “Crecimientos” (Growing), on Wednesdays to discuss a theme and to pray, and Tuesdays and Thursdays for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

“If we don’t get to know Jesus through a personal encounter with our Lord, we cannot love, or really know, nor serve … so this is one of the goals of the prayer group, that the Holy Spirit moves us to be able to know and to serve Jesus in and with others,” said Villalobos.

 He also said that another goal of the charismatic prayer groups is to have a “personal encounter with our Lord. ... All the Catholic apostolates are good, but God has chosen us to form and grow this charismatic renovation prayer groups so we can help our brothers and sisters.”

The prayer groups are made up of individuals who come together weekly as a family for the purpose of giving “Jesus the praise that He deserves,” said Villalobos.

Other parishes that have similar prayer groups include Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis Xavier, Saint Andrew, Saint Marguerite, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint Peter and Paul, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Saint Joseph and San Felipe. 

 For  information about the groups, contact the individual parish or the diocesan Office of the Hispanic Ministry, 801-328-8641 ext. 331.